Pool table

ABSTRACT

A pool table or the like ( 10 ) is formed from a trough ( 20 ) whose edges support the bed ( 12 ) of the table and have the cushions ( 34 ) attached to them. The trough includes means for directing potted balls in a particular manner, which may be in the form of channels ( 28 ). Sound-deadening material may be provided on the trough. The cushions can be attached to the trough by clips ( 56 ), pegs ( 90 ) or conventional means. The invention also extends to the trough itself, and to a method of assembling a table with a trough.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pool table or the like on which pool,snooker or similar games can be played, and in particular to a tablewhich can also serve as a dining table.

2. Description of the Related Art

Snooker tables are of course well known. Further, snooker tables whichcan also serve as dining tables (hereinafter referred to as“snooker/dining tables”) are known. When it is desired to convert thetable from its snooker form into its dining form, one or more covers arelaid across the table, extending from one side to the other andsupported on the cushions or the cushion surrounds. These covers formthe surface of the dining table. It is also normally necessary to lowerthe height of the table, as the optimum height for the playing surfaceof a snooker table is several centimetres greater than the optimumheight for a dining table, and mechanisms for adjusting the height inthis manner are well known.

The use of such a table as a dining table imposes strict requirements onthe allowable size of the top of the table. In particular, when thetable is to be used as a dining table, the lower surface of the tabletop should be at least around 21.5 inches (around 55 cm) above theground, to allow diners to fit their legs under the table top whenseated. However, the upper surface should not be more than around 29inches (around 74 cm) above the ground, as it is awkward to eat at aheight greater than this. Thus, the total thickness of the table top,including the covers, should not exceed 7.5 inches (19 cm).

This does not normally pose a great problem in the context ofsnooker/dining tables. The thickness of a snooker/dining table top ismade up of the thickness of the bed (normally made from slate or somesimilar flat and stiff material), the height of the cushions (whichextend upwardly from the bed), and the thickness of the covers formingthe dining surface. In addition, if there is a bed support, itsthickness must also be taken into account. The total thickness isnormally only a few inches.

In part, this stems from the nature of the game of snooker itself Insnooker, it is often necessary for a ball to be placed on the tableafter it is potted. The contents of the pockets of a snooker table musttherefore be easily accessible during a game, to facilitate thisreplacement. The pockets are commonly formed as shallow net bags,hanging from the bed and the cushions. It is easy for a person using thetable as a snooker table to reach a hand into the pocket to retrieve aball. Pockets of this type do not take up much space, and in any eventwill not inconvenience a diner.

However, in the game of pool, the situation is rather different. Once aball is potted in pool, it is never replaced on the table. Pool tables,and in particular coin-operated pool tables of the sort found in pubs,bars and so on, normally include means for collecting and retaining theballs after they are potted. In coin-operated tables, these means can beoperated to release the balls following insertion of the necessarycoinage, in preparation for the next game.

One common way of achieving this is to provide channels leading fromeach of the pockets to a central collection point, and a further channelleading from the collection point to a region where the balls can beremoved. This further channel can be blocked by a bar or the like, whichis retracted or lifted when the necessary coins are inserted.Alternative arrangements are of course possible, and are known in theart. The channels are commonly formed from pairs of rails, along whichthe balls run.

A further complication arises from the chance that the cue ball will beaccidentally potted by a player during a game of pool. Clearly, if thisoccurs, it is necessary to return the cue ball, to enable the followingplayer to take his or her shot, and so it is necessary to separate thecue ball from the other balls (the “object balls”) and prevent it frombeing collected with them.

A common solution to this problem is to make the cue ball with aslightly smaller diameter than the object balls. The further channel canthen be provided with a cut-away region having a size such that the cueball can fall through it, but the object balls cannot. If the channel isformed from a pair of rails, then these can have a region where thedistance between them is greater than the diameter of the cue ball butsmaller than the diameter of the object balls. After falling throughthis region, the cue ball can be led (for example by means of anotherchannel) to a region where it can be removed from the table by theplayers and used in the next shot.

Alternative means for separating the cue ball from the object balls arealso known in the art.

It will be appreciated that these means for separating the cue ball fromthe object balls, and for returning the balls to specified regions, cantake up a considerable amount of space. Indeed, in coin-operated tables,the mechanism can have a total thickness (measured downwardly from thetop of the cushions) of around 15 inches (38 cm). Obviously, it isimpossible to use mechanisms of this nature and size in a pool/diningtable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect, the invention provides a pool table,wherein the body of the table is formed from a trough, whose edgessupport the bed of the table and have the cushions attached thereto, thetrough being provided with means disposed under the bed for directingpotted balls in a desired manner.

Having a trough which supports the bed of the table and to which thecushions are attached simplifies the assembly of the table. Further, themeans for directing the potted balls can be formed with the trough, thusfurther reducing assembly time and the thickness of the table top.

The trough can support the bed in any suitable manner. However, in apreferred embodiment, the trough is generally bowl shaped, with ahorizontal inwardly projecting lip to support the bed.

Further, the cushions can be attached to the trough in any convenientway. However, it is preferred that the trough also comprises an edgeportion, extending upwardly from the lip, to which the cushions areattached.

The table can also comprise additional supports for the bed.

In a preferred form, the means for directing balls is in the form of aplurality of channels leading from the pockets to a collection point. Inan alternative embodiment, the means for directing balls is provided bythe lower surface of the trough being generally dish-shaped, with thecollection point at the lowest point of the dish.

It is envisioned that the pool table of the invention will be used as apool/dining table in a domestic environment. Preferably, sound deadeningmaterial is provided in at least some of the regions of the trough whichare contacted by balls. This reduces the noise produced by the tableduring play.

The cushions can be retained on the edge portions in any suitablemanner. For example, a screw can pass through the edge portion andengage in the body of the cushion, thus retaining it. However, it ispreferred for the cushions to be attached to the trough by at least oneclip.

Preferably, the clip has two legs which are resiliently attached to eachother, one of the legs being attached to the cushion and the other ofthe legs passing through an opening in an edge portion of the trough.This other leg of the clip may bear on the side of the edge portionwhich is distant from the cushion. This arrangement serves to retain thecushions very well, and also allows them to be removed, for example ifthe table is to be renovated, very easily.

Indeed, this aspect of the invention is considered to be of independentinventive merit, and so according to a further aspect of the invention,there is provided a pool table, wherein at least one cushion of thetable is attached to the body of the table by at least one clip.

Preferably, the tables described above can also serve as dining tables.

The invention also extends to a trough for use in a table as describedabove. The trough may be formed from more than one part.

The invention also extends to a method of assembling a pool table,comprising the steps of providing a trough with edges for supporting abed and for the attachment of cushions, the trough being provided withmeans for directing potted balls in a desired manner, laying the bed inthe trough so that it is supported by at least the edges, and attachingcushions to the trough. It is preferred that at least one cushion isattached to the trough by at least one clip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way ofexample only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-section of a table according to a preferredaspect of the invention;

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b show a method of forming a part of the table;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a cushion for use with the table;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cushion installed on the table;

FIG. 5 is a view of a part of the trough which allows balls to beretrieved;

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b are side views showing how the part of the troughallows balls to be retrieved; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a cushion installed on the table inan alternative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is best described with reference to FIG. 1, which asmentioned above shows a schematic cross-section through the side of apool/dining table 10. The table includes a bed 12, whose upper surfaceis covered with cloth 14 and which forms the pool playing surface. Theedges of the bed 12 rest on the lip 22 of a trough member 20, which issubstantially coextensive with the bed 12 and extends upwardly anddownwardly therefrom. Additional support members 24 can be providedextending across the table to reduce the risk of the bed 12 sagging, anda region of the trough formed to position such a support member is shownin phantom at 26.

Beneath the bed 12, the trough 20 is formed in a generally dished shape.In a preferred embodiment, shown in the drawings, the trough is formedwith channels 28 for directing balls 16 from the regions directlyunderneath the pockets to a particular region of the trough 20. Thechannels 28 slope downwardly toward this region of the trough 20. Inthis way, when a ball 16 is potted and falls through the cut-out (notshown) in the bed 12 onto the trough 20, it moves under gravity to theregion of the trough. Suitable means can be provided for guiding theballs 16 from the region of the table to a collection point. In oneembodiment, the region to which the balls are directed is the centre ofthe trough; however, it will of course be appreciated that the regionneed not be in the centre of the table, but can be in any desiredconvenient position.

It will be appreciated that at the pockets of the table, the bed 12 iscut away to allow the ball 16 to drop. The trough 20 is formed with abulge at these points, shown in phantom at 30, to allow the ball to dropcleanly into the channel 28.

In an alternative form, the trough 20 is not formed with channels, butthe dish shape is more pronounced. Any balls potted will automaticallyrun to the lowest part of the trough, from where they can again be ledto a collection point.

The balls can be removed from the table at the collection point. In afirst preferred embodiment, a part of the trough is hingedly attached tothe remainder of the trough. Such a part is shown schematically in FIG.5, and generally indicated by the reference numeral 70. As will be seenfrom that Figure, the part 70 is generally wedge-shaped, with a lowerwall 72, side walls 74, 76 and an end wall 78, which is preferably notas high as the side walls. The side of the lower wall 72 opposite to theend wall 78 is hinged to the remainder of the trough.

Normally, the part is in an upper position, shown schematically in FIG.6 a, where the lower wall 72 slopes away from the hinge 80. In use,potted balls are led to the region where the part is hinged to thetrough, and the balls roll along the lower wall 72 to the end wall 78 asa result of the slope of the lower wall. The motion of the balls isconstrained by the side walls, so that the balls collect by the endwall. The hinged part can be retained in this position by a latch orsimilar.

When it is desired to remove the balls, the latch is disengaged, and thepart 70 is rotated about the hinge 80 into a lower position as shown inFIG. 6 b. This allows a user to reach a hand in over the end wall 78 andretrieve the balls. Once the balls have been retrieved, the hinged partcan be returned to its original position. Alternatively, it can remainin its lower position, which simplifies the removal of the cue ball ifit is potted.

It is possible to provide the hinged part with a lock, allowing it to belocked in its upper position. This can prevent unauthorized use of thetable.

Further, means may be provided for separating the cue ball from theobject balls and delivering it to a different collection point.

Above the bed 12, the edges 32 of the trough 30 extend upwardly. Thecushions 34 of the pool table are attached to these edges 32. The heightof the vertical extent of the edges 32 is approximately equal to thethickness of the cloth-covered bed 12 and the height of the cushions 34.

The edges of the trough can also extend horizontally, level with the topof the cushions, as shown at 36. This provides a region surrounding thecushions on which a player can rest his or her bridge hand when playinga shot where the cue ball is close to the cushion 34. Of course, thesurround can be formed as a separate member.

As mentioned above, the systems for guiding potted balls in known pooltables take up a large amount of space, and in particular are too thick(from top to bottom) to be used in a pool/dining table. However, using atrough as described above allows the system for guiding potted balls tobe much reduced in size.

As an example, sample dimensions for the trough will be given, althoughit will of course be understood that these are examples only.

Routinely, the bed has a thickness of around 0.5 inches (13 mm), and thecushion has a height of 1.5 inches (36 mm). The covers which are put ontop of the cushions to turn the table into a dining table have athickness of around 0.75 inches (18 mm). The lowest point of the troughis around 3.5 inches (90 mm) below the underside of the bed, to allowthe table to be used with balls of a diameter of around 2 inches (51mm). With the inclusion of around an eight of an inch (3 mm) for thethickness of the material from which the trough is formed, the totalthickness of the table top when used for dining is around 6.25 inches(160 mm), well within the 7.5 inch (19 cm) limit.

The trough 20 can be formed from any material of sufficient stiffnessand strength to support the bed 12 and cushions 34 securely. Suitablematerials include plastics, fibre-reinforced plastics such asfibreglass, sheet metal such as aluminium, medium density fibreboard(MDF), and wood, although other materials can also be contemplated. Themethod of forming the trough 20 will of course depend on the materialfrom which it is formed, but moulding, pressing and vacuum-forming areall particularly suitable methods.

It will be appreciated that the trough 20 has a total height (from itslowest point to its highest point) of around 6.25 inches (160 mm), and,in the embodiment shown, has sides which are generally vertical. Thiscan cause difficulties if, for example, the trough 20 is being pressedor vacuum-formed from a single sheet, as then the original plane of thesheet will form the horizontal extent 36, parallel with the top of thecushions 34. Pressing such a deep trough 20 with vertical sides can leadto weakening or even tears in the material, especially at the corners.

To overcome this problem, the trough 20 can be formed with the sideshaving a more gentle slope. Alternatively, the trough 20 can be formedfrom a number of separate pieces, each of which is formed individually.The pieces can be pressed from separate sheets so that the formation ofvertical parts (ie parts which are perpendicular to the original planeof the sheet being pressed) can be avoided. This is shown schematicallyin FIGS. 2 a and 2 b where upper and lower tools 40, 42 are used topress a section 46 of the trough 20 from a sheet 44 of material.

As mentioned above, when a ball 16 is potted, it drops onto the surfaceof the trough 20. The impact of the ball on the trough creates a certainamount of noise, and this can be undesirable, particularly if the tableis being used as a pool/dining table in a domestic environment. Toovercome this problem, sound deadening material can be disposed in thechannels, or (where the trough is not formed with channels) on thesurface of the trough itself. Alternatively, the channels or the surfaceof the trough can be treated so as to reduce the amount of noisegenerated in this way.

Assembly of the table is as follows. Firstly, any additional supportmembers 24 which may be required are placed in the trough 20. Then thecovered bed 12 is laid in the trough 20, and is supported at its edges,and by any additional support members which may be used. Cushions 34 areattached to the upstanding edges 32 of the trough 20. The assembly ofthe trough, bed and cushions is then inserted into a frame, which may bedirectly attached to a table, or may be attached to a height adjustmentmechanism which is attached to the table.

There are various ways of attaching the cushions to the trough. In theprior art, cushions have been attached to tables by screwing, or byover-centre clamps. It is vital that the cushion is firmly attached tothe table. If there is any slack, then the cushion will move when a ballhits it, absorbing a great deal of the kinetic energy of the ball andreducing the speed at which the ball bounces off.

Screwing or clamping the cushion to the table succeeds in firmlyattaching it, but can make it difficult to remove the cushion, which isnecessary if the cloth on the bed is to be replaced. In particular, ifthe cushion is screwed to the table, then it is normally necessary toremove a surround before the screw can be accessed, and removal of thesurround may itself involve further dismantling of the table.

In the preferred embodiment, the cushions are attached to the upstandingedges of the trough by clips. A cushion which can be attached in thisway is shown in FIG. 3, and the cushion is shown in its attached statein FIG. 4.

The cushion of FIG. 3 comprises a rail 50 made of wood or any othersuitable material. A strip 52 of elastomeric material is attached to therail 50, and it is this strip 52 which the balls contact. The strip 52and rail 50 are normally covered with cloth.

On the side opposite to that where the strip 52 is attached, the rail 50has a recess 54, and one end 58 of a clip 56 is attached to the floor ofthe recess 54 by a screw. The free end 60 of the clip 56 has an aperture62 through it, to allow a screwdriver to access the head of the screw.Of course, the cushion 34 is provided with as many clips 56 as arenecessary to hold it in place. In addition, any other suitable method ofattaching the clips 56 to the rail 50, such as gluing, can be used. Therail can also have an aluminium profile section inserted into therecess, for additional strength.

The upstanding edges 32 of the trough are formed with openings 64therethrough, and these can be seen in FIG. 4. These openings 64 can beformed when the trough 20 as a whole is formed, or in a subsequent step.

To mount the cushions 34 on the trough 20, the free end 60 of the clip56 is threaded through the opening 64. The cushion 34 is then presseddownwardly, so that the clip 56 arrives at the position shown in FIG. 4.Here, it will be seen that the free end 60 of the clip 56 is in contactwith a face of the upstanding edge 32 of the trough 20. As a result, thecushion 34 is held tightly on the trough, as is necessary to provide agood bounce characteristic.

In this embodiment, the free end of the clip is in direct contact with aface of the upstanding edge of the trough. However, this can causeproblems depending on the material from which the trough is formed. Inparticular, fibreglass is prone to wear in this type of situation, andso in an alternative embodiment the edge of the trough can be providedwith a reinforced region which the clip contacts. This reinforced regioncan be in the form of a piece of aluminium sheet attached to the edge ofthe trough at the area where the clip contacts.

Similar reinforcing regions can also be used if the cushion is to beattached to the edge of the trough by means of screws.

The cushions 34 can be easily removed in the event that this isrequired, by simply levering them upwardly from one end.

Alternative forms of clips can also be used to attach the cushions. Forexample, FIG. 7 shows a method of attachment in which pegs 90 areattached to the cushions. The pegs are formed from a resilient material,and the ends of the pegs are slit and tapered, so that the halves 92, 94of the peg can be pushed together. To attach the cushions, the ends ofthe pegs are located in holes in the edge of the trough, and the cushionis pushed towards the trough. This pushes the pegs into the holes,compressing the halves of the peg. When the peg is fully inserted, thehalves spring back into their original position as a result of theresilience of the material from which the peg is formed, and so hold thecushion in place.

Of course, it will be appreciated that this method of attaching cushionsto tables is of general applicability, as is the idea of using a troughto support the bed and the cushions. Thus, the invention should not beconstrued as being limited to pool/dining tables, but also extends toordinary pool tables, billiard tables and snooker tables.

1. A combination pool and dining table, comprising: a bed having edgesand containing a plurality of spaced pockets; and a low profile troughformed from one of a molded and sheet material, said trough having edgesincluding an inwardly-projecting lip which supports the edges of thebed, the edges of the trough extending above the edges of the bed, andfurther wherein cushions are attached to the edges of the trough, thetrough extending from the edges of the bed under the entire bed forsupporting the bed, the trough further being provided with meansdisposed substantially under the entire bed for directing potted ballsfrom the plurality of pockets to a common collection point.
 2. A tableas claimed in claim 1, wherein the trough is generally bowl shaped.
 3. Atable as claimed in claim 1, wherein said trough includes additionalsupports across the top surface thereof for supporting the bed in anarea intermediate the edges thereof.
 4. A table as claimed in claim 1,wherein said means for directing balls is provided in the form of aplurality of channels leading from the pockets to a collection point. 5.A table as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for directing balls isprovided by a lower surface of the trough being generally dish-shaped,with a collection point at a lowest point of the dish.
 6. A table asclaimed in claim 1, wherein a sound deadening material is provided in atleast some regions of the trough which are contacted by balls.
 7. Atable as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one cushion is attached tothe trough edge by at least one clip.
 8. A table as claimed in claim 7,wherein said clip has two legs which are resiliently attached to eachother, one of said legs being attached to said cushion and the other ofsaid legs passing through an opening in a vertical edge portion of thetrough.
 9. A table as claimed in claim 8, wherein said other leg of saidclip means bears on a side of said edge portion which is distant fromthe cushion.
 10. A trough as claimed in claim 1, wherein said trough isformed from more than one part.